Highlights from DeKorte & environs yesterday: the Northern Shrike (at the Disposal Retention Pond area, eating brunch, and chasing a mockingbird), two Bald Eagles (one attacking gulls, one soaring), Cooper's Hawk and the usual raptors, Canvasbacks and the other usual waterfowl) Fox Sparrows, and a Great Blue Heron (left) near the start of the Saw Mill Creek Trail, not far from the shrike.

    Ron Shields had the Northern Shrike at the back of the Retention Pond by Disposal Road from roughly 3:30 to 4 p.m. today. Ron called me in time for me to take a lot of photos from across the pond, in not-so-hot light.

  One or two  — like the one above — sort of came out, at least enough to ID by…

   Best way to find the bird this afternoon — he was singing away, very loudly…

  The Northern Shrike continues on Disposal Road and now DeKorte Park.

  It was seen on the  Saw Mill Creek Trail this morning after it made a brief stop at the Cedars near the Carillon.  Chris Takacs says: "We noticed the bird when the local Mockingbird began to complain –something to  look for when searching for this guy."

   It was seen Thursday several times — in the morning, mid-afternoon and late afternoon.

   Chris reports: "At 3:15 we saw it on  the same trail much farther out. It flew towards the Osprey platform near the  "T" in the trail, much closer to the parking lots and buildings." (Thanks, Chris!)

  The bird has now hung around for 29 days.

   A big thank you to all the birders who have been looking for (and finding) this bird.  If anyone has good new photos, we'd love to post them.

   Birder’s World magazine has named the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission’s Richard W. DeKorte Park as one of its top places for bird-watching, calling the 110-acre park “among the premier urban wildlife spots in the country.”

   In a report in its February 2010 issue, the popular national magazine made special note of DeKorte Park’s abundant winged wonders – from owls and other raptors in winter to butterflies and egrets in summer – and also praised the park’s well-maintained, family-friendly walkways and trails.  The issue went on sale this week.

   According to the magazine, “the 30-square-mile area has undergone a reclamation of remarkable scope and success. Thanks to the work of the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission, what was once a national shame is now among the premier urban wildlife spots in the country.”

     Click here>>>>Download Birder’s World Hotspot- DeKorte Park to see the one-page article.

     Click here to explore the Birder’s World Web Site.

     Click here to read The Record’s story on the news.

     Click “Continue reading…” for more information.

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    The Northern Shrike is now officially on the 10 Most Wanted List of Meadowlands birders, and we have posted a "Wanted Poster" on Disposal Road to that effect.

    Click here >>>Download WANTED to read the poster.

   Chris Takacs reports: "Northern Shrike was seen along the Saw Mill Creek Trail at 3:30 Wednesday afternoon.

   "I saw it between the first two towers perched on a small bush. It flew toward the carillon as I walked out the trail."   

   "Red-breasted Merganser, 41 Buffleheads, 15 Green-winged Teal, 130+ Black Ducks,  2 Red-tailed Hawks, 3 Harriers, 3 White-crowned Sparrows were all seen from the trail or the AMVETS Carillon area." (Thanks, Chris!)

    Kevin Watson took this American Pipit shot at Mill Creek Marsh last Saturday. (Thanks, Kevin!)

    More on American Pipits here (but try to find the pipit in the photo on that page).

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   Ron Shields kicked off the new year at the Kearny Marsh with these Common Moorhen shots. (Thanks, Ron!)

   More on Common Moorhens here.

   We welcome photographers to share their Meadowlands images with us. Just e-mail them to Jim Wright here.

   Tomorrow: A Pipit by Kevin Watson.